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Sent:
To:
Subject:
Steinberg, David
Friday, July 24, 2009 5:54 PM
Weil, Leah
FW: Hollywood reporter - time sensitive
The price that Sony Pictures will ultimately pay for the Michael Jackson movie?
Originally it was $60 million. But since the Jackson estate has backed off the idea of a televised memorial from London on
August 29th, Sony is going to end up paying a higher price. This may be because with NBC Universal willing at one point
to pay $10 million for the TV project, Sony needs to keep that off the air to protect its movies market share.
The new price is said to be $75 million. And thats not final yet. Im told it could still go a little higher.
Sony declined comment.
This Is It, as the film is tentatively called, is still scheduled for an Oct. 30th release. The August 29th shows are dead,
however. What may still be on is some kind of tribute Joseph Jackson wants to organize for the same date. He has no
venue or production and is relying on ex-con Leonard Rowe to produce it, so Id wait on getting out my credit card just yet.
The movie, however, is turning into an event. Everyone will go see it so they can make up their own minds, says a
source. Was he sick? How did he look? Did he know this really was it?
The feeling at Sony, which is intent on being the Michael Jackson company, is that Europe and Japan will be even bigger
than America sales-wise. Theyre probably right. Michael never lost his luster abroad.
Meanwhile, the executors of the Jackson estate were in court yesterday getting permission to do some licensing. Theyre
re-publishing Michaels autobiography, Moonwalk, with Shaye Areheart Books. Areheart was assistant to Jackie Onassis
back when she published the book at Doubleday. Other licenses were also approved, although Im told the estate is
playing it safe right now, and not doing too much. Just enough, they say.
-----Original Message----From: Kennedy, Jim
Sent: Friday, July 24, 2009 2:36 PM
To: Elzer, Steve; Schlessel, Peter
Subject: Re: Hollywood reporter - time sensitive
I agree. I would not want to deny it on the record. That leads to a game of twenty questions. Not happy they are printing
with firm off the record guidance its not true. That makes them rumor mongers.
----- Original Message ----From: Elzer, Steve
To: Schlessel, Peter; Kennedy, Jim
Sent: Fri Jul 24 14:03:18 2009
Subject: Re: Hollywood reporter - time sensitive
The estate is alledgedly making calls. Just not sure where this is coming from and we have told them off the record what
the situation is. Don't want to do anything that makes a bad situation worse. My vote is to live with the bad report and
clean it up when we sign
Steve Elzer
Senior Vice President,
Media Relations